IFA not so happy with destock pay

THE Department of the Environment has confirmed to IFA that the destocking payment for 2004 for non-REPS farmers with commonages has been set at €58.80 per destocked sheep.

The payment is based on the price of hill lamb and the ewe premium foregone, less the costs of production.

IFA Hill Farming Committee Chairman Michael Comiskey expressed disappointment that the payment is €1.20 less than the 2003 payment. He said if farmers are unhappy with the 2004 payment rate, they should get their losses assessed by Teagasc or planners.